Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Our beautiful and amazing "ABAD: The Ties That Bind" books will be in a
new exhibition this fall---New York Bound: International Book Art
Biennial, curated By Dorothea Fleiss of the Museum of Art Satu- Mare
Romania. The show runs September 22 - December 29, 2013 at the Islip Art
Museum, East Islip, NY (http://www.islipartmuseum.org/) and for those ABADers in the
area, the reception is October 6 from 1-4pm.

The exhibition will feature a selection of artist-made books from around
the world. The show seeks to promote and encourage artists'
unconventional ideas about
books. I will be fitting both books for clear protective covers this
week.

About Me

I first became involved in the "A Book About Death" Project (ABAD) with the original NYC show in 2009.

I am also twice a curator -- (1) ABAD: The Ties That Bind in Bay Shore, NY, August 2011 (the first ABAD ever to get NY Times attention) AND (2) Ray Johnson and A Book About Death at LIU/CW Post, Brookville, NY, November 2010.

On my personal blog, "The Ten Thousand Days," I chronicle my ongoing adventures in the ever-expanding ABAD Universe and beyond.

Follow my quest through photography, design and mail art as I attempt to discover the meanings of Fluxus, post-Fluxus, deep artistic expression, and the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.

ABAD 2010 Commemorative Ornament

Ceramic ornament lists all the Countries and US States that ABAD has visited through 2010. Also includes the show's collectors (MoMA NY, MoMA Wales, LACMA). Original design by LuAnn Palazzo, The DesignDiva NY

RJ+ABAD Tote Bags

For all that ABAD swag! Original design and photograph by Joan Harrison.

RJ+ABAD Opening Highlights Video Available

Ray Johnson and a Book About Death Presents Highlights from Night of the Living Fluxus November 3, 2010SAL Gallery/ C.W. Post Campus, Brookville, NY A 25 minute DVD compilation of the evening's highlights by Alumni Barry Rivadue is available for purchase. $10.00 includes shipping and handling. Contact Barry Rivadue, P.O. Box 174 Wantagh, NY 11793 or order from WEGGST@aol.com

"The Wall"

ABAD Video Link

Impromptu Kali Dance Performed at the Opening

Kali Shadow Theater at Night of the Living Fluxus

The Kali Shadow Theater is inspired by traditional Nang shadow plays popular in Thailand as well as cabaret shows from Montmartre during the 1880’s. A simple backlight screen with actors and silhouette cutouts combine to create a living collage. The performance centers on the myth and narrative of the Hindu goddess Kali and the paradox of her dual roles in creation and death.

Kali Shadow Theater is a work conceived by William Evertson for Seeking Kali, an online forum for artists exploring myth and archetype.

Kali Theater Trailer By William Evertson

Mail Art from Ryosuke Cohen / Japan

Brain Cell Series 746-765 Twenty 12" x 18" pieces sent to us especially for this exhibition

Ray Johnson and ABAD Invitation By Joan Harrison

Click image to download FREE printable file

Ray Johnson and ABAD Poster by LuAnn T. Palazzo

Click image to download FREE printable file

Ray Johnson and ABAD Poster by Angela Ferrara

Click image to download FREE printable file

Ray Johnson and ABAD Poster by William Evertson

Click image to download FREE printable file

Ray Johnson and ABAD Poster by Keith Buchholz

Click image to download FREE printable file

The Original 2009 ABAD Poster by Matthew Rose

Click image to download FREE printable file

Happy 1st Birthday ABAD Poster by Betty Esperanza and Susan Shulman

This photo was taken outside the Emily Harvey Foundation Gallery on opening night September 10, 2009. Magic happened that night!

The lineup of people behind us snaked up 2 blocks and Susan and I [Betty Esperanza] were mezmerized by the hustle and bustle of New Yorkers waiting to get inside this small gallery. Thanks to Matthew Rose's vision, we are all connected. A BOOK ABOUT DEATH has a life of its own and its immortal...Happy 1st Birthday, ABAD!

RAY JOHNSON SPEAKS 2A Correspondence School Event

RAY JOHNSON SPEAKS 3The Charlotte Moorman Avant Garde Festival

RAY JOHNSON SPEAKS 4How To Become A Correspondence School Member

RAY JOHNSON SPEAKS 5Ray Johnson/Will Farrington Phone Messages

A Book About Death, The Movie By Angela Ferrara

A Book About Death, The Movie

A Book About Death, an unbound book on the subject of death, a project by Matthew Rose, opened at the Emily Harvey Foundation Gallery in New York City on September 10, 2009. Approximately 500 artists sent in 500 postcard works to be distributed in the gallery space as pages for the "book." The above video is the work of Brazilian artist Angela Ferrara, and the music, "Praan" is by Los Angeles-based composer Garry Schyman.

Catalogue Covers from "A Book About A Book About Death" by William S. Wilson

This catalog accompanied an exhibition held at Kunstverein in Amsterdam (12/12/09–1/31/10). It explores and explicates Ray Johnson's original "A Book About Death." Mr. Wilson has generously shared with this current exhibition numerous catalogs and information on Ray Johnson and the original unpaginated "A Book About Death."

The Eve of Fluxus

Billie Maciunas has graciously contributed a copy of her new book, "The Eve of Fluxus", to the RJ+ABAD Permanent Archive. The book is a memoir of Billie's meeting and marrying George Maciunas, founder of the twentieth century art group Fluxus. This group influenced Ray Johnson and many of the contributing ABAD artists.